The Manitou Incline ~ Is It the Stairway to Heaven?

The Manitou Incline looks like a stairway to heaven. It is located near Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is a popular hiking trail. With 2000 ft. of elevation in a one mile trail for advanced hikers, it is not for the faint of heart. My Sister and her family climbed up the incline then she told me about it. She said,” I was climbing almost straight up”.

The history of The Manitou Incline is amazing. The Manitou Incline was originally built as a cable car to carry materials to build pipelines on Pikes Peak- America’s Mountain. The trail is what remains of a narrow gauge railway whose tracks washed out during a rock slide in 1990. After the pipelines were finished, it was turned into a tourist attraction. The Incline is famous for its sweeping views and steep grade, with an average grade of 45% and as steep as 68% in places, making it a fitness challenge for locals in the Colorado Springs area. Do not let the top fool you there is 300 more feet to go before reaching the real top. After reaching the summit you walk down a trail called Barr Trail. No one is allowed to go down the Manitou Incline.

More information about the Manitou Incline:

Length: 1 mile, but climbs 2,000 vertical feet.

Duration: Under 30 minutes to over an hour or more depending on your fitness level and pace.

Trail Difficulty: Difficult

Recommended for: Physically active, not ADA accessible

Cost: Free

Parking: Parking is recommended within parking lots along Manitou Avenue- Then hike up Ruxton Avenue. Parking is limited and difficult to find along Ruxton. It is highly recommended to take the free shuttle service during the dates of May 18 – Sept. 24.

Dogs: No dogs allowed on the Incline

Hours of use: Dawn-Dusk, no night use permitted; Beginning October 31, 2016 Hours of Operation will be: April 1- October 31: 6am-8pm and November 1– March 31: 6am-6pm

Please be advised. It can take first responders up to 3-4 hours to get to you if you have a medical issue.